Category: Brand News

Our tails are still wagging with excitement after attending the Global Pet Expo in Florida, presented by the American Pet Products Association and Pet Industry Distributors Association. This dynamic expo featured a show floor spanning over 354,000 net square feet of exhibit space with the hottest, most innovative pet products on the market today. It was truly amazing.

This premier event is only open to independent retailers, distributors, mass-market buyers and other qualified professionals. Knowing that ahead of time, we spotted an opportunity to share our passion for helping independent pet store owners, without losing their local appeal through a partnership with Pet Supplies Plus.

We lunched, learned and connected.

To get the conversation started, we hosted a lunch n’ learn. The topic was our Independent Pet Conversion Program that we developed to partner with independent pet store owners. “We met several terrific independent pet store owners from all over the country who quickly recognized the value in partnering with the nation’s largest network of independently owned and operated pet stores,” says Vice President of Stores, Nick Russo.

As the largest chain of independent pet store owners and operators in the country, our program gives independent pet store owners the opportunity to offer more products, greater variety and better prices to reward existing customers and attract new ones. Plus, they get the buying power of almost 500 stores, as well as best-in-class marketing, merchandising and tech support to keep their stores running strong.

“We know that competition with local independent pet stores makes it tough to move into just any town in the U.S.,” says Russo. “We’d rather create a win-win where the strong relationships in the community stay intact and we give them the full backing of our billion-dollar brand.”

That’s the beauty of franchising with us. Yes, we are the nation’s top pet store franchise, but we stay true to helping each Franchise Owner be an even bigger part of their local neighborhood and a big part of our pet-loving family. Want to learn more about our Independent Pet Conversion Program? Visit our program landing page here.

There’s no challenge we can’t overcome here at Pet Supplies Plus. We weren’t about to let the COVID-19 pandemic put a damper on our Meet The Team Day, which is where Franchise Owner candidates visit our Corporate Office in Michigan to tour a local store with CEO Chris Rowland and meet the Corporate team. So, we went virtual and the response was phenomenal.

“It was the one of the best virtual conferences I’ve even been a part of,” said one of our Franchise Brokers. And the best part was that it resulted in two new Franchise Owner groups signing franchise agreements.

We’re excited to welcome Jonathan, our first candidate to sign for a store in the Conroe, Texas area. He’s a veteran services executive in the technology industry with over 20 years of professional experience and ready to use his skills as a leading pet store franchise owner.

“The content was digestible, and it was supported with the right visuals and details. They got it right,” said Jonathan. “I had no doubt at the end that I was going to proceed.”

We’re also happy to welcome Janet and Michael, who signed franchise agreements to bring our pet store franchise to Northeast Illinois. Janet’s a passionate preservationist with over 25 years in research and development as a biochemical scientist, wellness expert, CEO, entrepreneur, inventor and speaker. Michael is just as interesting. He’s a native of Wales and was trained at the United Bristol Hospitals and United Sheffield Hospitals in neurology. He emigrated in 1970 to take up a research fellowship where he studied mechanisms of strokes and migraines. In 1981, he pioneered the use of the MRI.

“It was so engaging. They had an answer for every question we asked,” said Janet. “The process was so well thought out, and they survived the test of time—we made the right choice,” added Michael. As a recession-resilient franchise, pet lovers of all backgrounds see how Pet Supplies Plus adapts and thrives in any market as a team. We can’t wait to help Jonathan, Janet and Michael transform their careers and communities with our top pet franchise.

Adversity brings teams closer together

Nobody can predict the ultimate impact COVID-19 will have economically and emotionally. But Forbesexplains that, “Behavioral scientists have proven that the more arduous your collective journey, the stronger your team’s cohesion.”

Forbes goes on to say how economic downturns offer businesses certain advantages. “It may sound counter intuitive but the greater constraint investors place on their financial resources during economic downturn, the better their chance of success. If they can weather the downturn, they’ll be well positioned to reap the rewards of the next economic expansion.”

Our Pet Supplies Plus Franchise Owners and employees are family to us. We’re here to overcome any challenge together. Now’s the time to join us, and we’d love to have you join our pack of nearly 500 stores across the country.

Learn how you can attend our next virtual MTTD. Fill out the form below to get the ball rolling.

Times are uncertain out there, but here at Pet Supplies Plus, one thing always remains stable — our passion for people, pets and performance continues to rise above the pack. Every day, our Franchise Owners and employees are working extra hard to make a difference for our neighbors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CEO Chris Rowland says it best. “You’re doing an amazing job. In a very short period of time, the stores have embraced our service, and neighbors are loving the convenience of it. The execution has been phenomenal,” says Rowland.

Watch his video here to see one of his latest addresses to our incredible pack of Pet Supplies Plus Franchise Owners and staff members.

Pets are huge and so are our numbers

Our stores offer omni-channel shopping options so pet owners can purchase everything they need to keep their pets happy and healthy. From in-store shopping while observing social distancing (or about the length of two Labradors) and online ordering to using free same/next-day delivery and curbside pickup, we make it easy for customers to shop the way they want. It’s no surprise that our Franchise Owners are busy reaping the rewards of the $75B pet industry.*

Over the last couple of months, the response from neighbors to our omni-channel shopping options have been incredible – and it shows in our numbers:

Online ordering has rapidly increased since January 2020. We’ve grown 2,275% in online sales from January to April 2020.

Online order size is up. We’ve seen a 7% increase in delivery basket size and a 9% increase in curbside pickup basket size.

Curbside pickup is on the rise. Overall, this service has increased by 151%.

These spectacular numbers are a tribute to our best-in-show service and support in everything we do. The combination of our booming demand and omni-channel shopping options make us uniquely poised to keep leading the pack, no matter what’s going on in the market.

If you’re looking to unleash your inner entrepreneur and be part of an essential community of pet lovers, now’s the time to join us.

Do you want to learn more about our recession-resilient franchise? Fill out the form below, and one of our franchise development directors will be in touch.

In uncertain times, one thing is certain: there are no limits on how much people love their pets. Our furry family members power $75B1 in annual sales, and Pet Supplies Plus’ well-established omni-channel shopping options make us one of the best—and most recession-resilient— franchises to own in unsettled markets.

Good instincts and the ability to adapt.

Just like people need groceries, pets need food—and treats, and wellness products, chew toys, and cat condos! Committed to growth, innovation, and strategic capitalization on evergreen demand, Pet Supplies Plus was ahead of the curve in implementing multiple ways to make it quick, simple, and convenient for pet owners to stock up everything they need to keep pets happy and healthy. Our omni-channel shopping options include in-store shopping while observing six feet of separation between neighbors (that’s about two Labrador retrievers!), online ordering with free curbside pickup in two hours, and free same or next day delivery so our neighbors can stay in their comfort zone while shopping. Innovations like these have made us top dog in an already recession-resilient industry.

More pets, more food, more everything.

There’s no better time
to own a pet store.
According to Petfoodindustry.com, “dog, cat and even hen adoptions soared in
the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic as people prepared to
shelter in place.2” Pet fostering is also booming, as big-hearted animal
lovers open their homes to pets displaced by animal shelter closures.

According
to Minnesota Public Radio, animal shelters promoted adoption prior to shelter
closures. By the time the shelters closed, people adopted more than 300
animals. Similar results happened in New York, Arizona, and California, according
to the Washington Post.3With the vast majority
of families working, e-learning, and living at home, people depend on their
pets more than ever, for love and companionship, exercise, and fun.

Here to keep tails
wagging.

As Entrepreneur magazine’s #1 pet store franchise for six years running, Pet
Supplies Plus’ success comes from its loyalty to the community it serves, a
community of pet fanatics it loves — and completely understand. We have 30+
years of experience in the pet food industry and a proven track record of
franchise owner success, growth, and support. Renowned service, booming demand,
and omni-channel shopping options make us uniquely poised to keep us leading
the pack no matter what’s going on in the market.

Want to learn more about our recession-resilient franchise? Fill out our form below and one of our franchise development directors will be in touch.

At
Pet Supplies Plus, our goal is to be the alpha dog in the pet franchise business.
We couldn’t be happier that Entrepreneur magazine recognized us as a franchise
industry leader and gave us top honors as the #1 pet franchise for the sixth
year in a row.

The competition was stiff. More than 1,100 companies competed for this year’s ranking, and we lead the pack in rigorous judging criteria that includes unit growth, brand power, franchise owner support, and financial strength and stability. Each franchise receives a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500 in ranking order.

2020 is going to be a great year for the pet industry and for Pet Supplies Plus! With more than 460 stores, we’re the largest independent pet store chain, and we just keep getting bigger. Pet Supplies Plus Franchise Owner Scott Buchel says, “pet retail is a huge category. It’s the fastest growing segment year after year.” From biscuits and bully sticks to supplements and squeaky toys, Americans spent a whopping $75B on their furry family members last year* and are poised to spend even more this year. Don’t wait—it’s the perfect time to partner with one of the best franchises to own and stake your claim in this profitable industry. As an opportunity to combine your entrepreneurial skills with your love of animals, it’s a big win-win.

A special
shout-out to our pet franchise owners who make us #1. They know that pets are
family members, too, and are committed to making their stores a one-stop
destination for pet lovers looking for healthier food options, the latest toys and
accessories, and professional care and grooming. Because of our owners, our stores
are both a vibrant part of the community and a fun place to work. They provide
high-quality products, information, and education about all things pet, and they
partner with local shelters, rescues, and organizations to help pets in need. “It
doesn’t feel like I’m going to work every day,” says Lori Nebel, Pet Supplies
Plus Multi-Unit Owner, “because I love what I do. And the reward is the
community involvement—you’re definitely giving back.”

Ready to take the next step toward franchise ownership? Fill out the form here to speak with one of our Franchise Development Directors.

Pet Supplies Plus franchisees often start as loyal customers. If you ask Curtis and Renee Otjen who turned them on to the pet retail franchise, they’ll tell you it was their dogs, Jaz, Bailey and Huck. When the family moved from Detroit to Elizabethtown, Kentucky, they couldn’t find a pet store that welcomed their dogs. “There wasn’t anywhere like Pet Supplies Plus for us to shop with our dogs,” Curtis said. “We figured the only way to get what we wanted was to open one ourselves.” Not only did the Otjens find a perfect fit for their pets, they created a welcoming space for all the neighbors and pets in their community.

Fundraising for Forever Homes

Pet Supplies Plus franchisees are more than store owners – they’re part of the community. Community involvement increases brand loyalty and provides an opportunity to give back—and it can affect overall sales. Each franchisee chooses a unique way to give back. The Otjens chose to get involved with local animal shelters. Since launching their franchise in 2015, the couple has partnered with a handful of rescue shelters. They particularly enjoy hosting adoption events and fundraisers “We have a lot more traffic than the county shelter. We use our platform for good, and we’ve sponsored their annual fundraising event for the past two years,” Curtis said. Through the adoption unit in the store, they helped place more than 192 cats in forever homes. The high volume of shoppers helps increase awareness and facilitates more adoptions. Additionally, the Otjen’s donate often to nearby shelters – nearly 200 pounds of food per week. Giving back to shelters is one of the most rewarding parts of business ownership, they said.

Community Outreach Fosters Brand Loyalty

Pet lovers consider many factors when they choose where to shop, one being charity work. If a store actively gives back, it shows a commitment to the community and builds customer loyalty. Neighbors that adopt animals at in-store events are likely to return to that store for supplies and advice. Building those relationships results in more regular visits and sales.

Mentoring Tomorrow’s Pet Lovers

The Otjens are always looking for new ways to connect with their community. Many of their employees are young, and the Otjens enjoy mentoring first-time job holders. “It’s like another way to give back. Teach them about the job, a love for animals and customer service. We love seeing our employees learn and grow,” Curtis said. To learn more about franchising with Pet Supplies Plus, get in touch with us here.

Pet Supplies Plus doesn’t have customers; pet parents who visit our stores are our neighbors. And Addy Shattuck is no stranger to her neighbors.

Addy – one of the first Pet Supplies Plus franchisees – owns three locations in Michigan. Her involvement with the local community builds brand loyalty and long-term patronage with her neighbors, a key foundation to a successful franchise.

Forever Homes

Addy’s in-store adoption events benefit the community on many levels. They not only connect Addy with new pet parents but also help animals in need—so much so that cat adoption centers are now a permanent part of her store.

Eight thousand friendly felines found forever homes through her efforts over the last 27 years. Addy herself adopted seven of those cats – bringing her pet household count to eight cats and one dog.

“A lot of the time, I get the cats from the county shelter. They get overrun there, and the animals are sometimes at risk for euthanizing. So, I’m happy to help out,” Addy said.

These local events positively impact the bottom line as well. New pet parents who adopt through Pet Supplies Plus return for future purchases and advice, fostering new and meaningful relationships for years to come.

Neighbors Make It All Possible

Addy’s event schedule grew from just a few community events to a full line up of holiday events, block parties, customer appreciation days and educational workshops.

These events often feature in-store deals, giveaways and fun events for pets and their families. Veterinarian led educational events are hugely successful and cover topics such as obesity, recognizing pets’ pain and dental health. Addy pays forward the positive outcomes of these event by requesting local shelter donations be given in lieu of admission charges.

These events are some of the most important things owners can do, according to Addy.

“Maybe your neighbors won’t notice if you don’t have events, but they will definitely notice if you do,” she said. “You have to give back. The whole reason I’m here is because of my neighbors, so I love being able to interact with them.”

Community-Focused Franchise

Pet Supplies Plus’ community-focused franchise model makes it easy for franchisees to engage with their neighbors in meaningful ways. Even though Addy’s district managers at each location oversee the day-to-day operations, she finds herself in her stores all the time.

“I work about seven days a week. I don’t have to, but I go because I love to,” she said. “I get to see neighbors I’ve known for years. I know their names and their pets’ names, even though those have changed over the years.”

Addy’s passion for interacting with neighbors drives her success in the community. If you want to have a meaningful impact on your local community as a Pet Supplies Plus franchise owner, get in touch with us here.